DATE=11/13/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241634
TITLE=TURKEY / ITALY / KURDS (L UPDATE)
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TURKISH PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ SAYS HE EXPECTS THE
ITALIAN GOVERNMENT WILL HAND OVER KURDISH REBEL CHIEF ABDULLAH
OCALAN WHO WAS ARRESTED (THURSDAY) IN ROME. AMBERIN ZAMAN IN
ANKARA REPORTS MR. YILMAZ SAID IT WOULD NOT -- IN HIS WORDS --
BEFIT A FELLOW NATO MEMBER COUNTRY TO OFFER SANCTUARY TO "A
MURDERER."
TEXT: MR. YILMAZ SPOKE TO REPORTERS FOLLOWING NEWS OF THE ARREST
OF ABDULLAH OCALAN -- THE LEADER OF THE SEPARATIST KURDISTAN
WORKERS PARTY, P-K-K. THE TURKISH PRIME MINISTER CALLED ON THE
ITALIAN GOVERNMENT TO RESPECT WHAT HE CALLED ITS OBLIGATIONS TO
HELP PRESERVE LAW AND ORDER.
/// YILMAZ ACT - IN TURKISH - FADE UNDER ///
MR. YILMAZ SAID HIS GOVERNMENT HAD ALREADY DEMANDED THE P-K-K
LEADER'S EXTRADITION BY THE ITALIAN AUTHORITIES.
ABDULLAH OCALAN WAS ARRESTED AT ROME AIRPORT THURSDAY EVENING
AFTER HE GOT OFF A PLANE FROM MOSCOW. POLICE SAY HE WAS CARRYING
A FORGED TURKISH PASSPORT.
PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ DESCRIBED THE ARREST OF THE P-K-K LEADER AS
A MAJOR TURNING POINT IN TURKEY'S BATTLE AGAINST SEPARATIST
TERRORISM.
/// YILMAZ ACT - IN TURKISH - FADE UNDER ///
BUT MR. YILMAZ CAUTIONED AGAINST COMPLACENCY, SAYING TURKEY'S
FIGHT AGAINST THE P-K-K WOULD CONTINUE UNTIL WHAT HE TERMED THE
"VERY END."
MR. YILMAZ SAID HIS GOVERNMENT'S PRESSURE ON DAMASCUS LAST MONTH
TO EXPEL ABDULLAH OCALAN FROM SYRIA HAD PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN
HIS CAPTURE. FOR THE PAST 14 YEARS, THE P-K-K LEADER HAD BEEN
DIRECTING HIS REBELS FROM DAMASCUS BY WALKIE TALKIES AND CELLULAR
TELEPHONES. UNDER TURKISH MILITARY THREATS, THE SYRIAN
GOVERNMENT ORDERED HIM OUT OF THE COUNTRY LAST MONTH, AND TURKEY
SAID HE HAD GONE TO MOSCOW.
ABDULLAH OCALAN -- AN ETHNIC KURD FROM TURKEY'S SOUTHERN PROVINCE
OF SANLIURFA -- IS A UNIVERSITY DROP OUT WITH A PASSION FOR
SOCCER. HE FOUNDED THE P-K-K IN THE LATE 1970'S, WITH THE GOAL
OF ESTABLISHING AN INDEPENDENT "KURDISTAN" CARVED MAINLY OUT OF
TURKEY THROUGH AN ARMED STRUGGLE AGAINST THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT.
NEARLY 40-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THE CONFLICT SO FAR.
THE REBEL GROUP IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE AROUND FIVE-THOUSAND
FIGHTERS INCLUDING MORE THAN 500 WOMEN. IT IS REGARDED AS A
TERRORIST GROUP BY TURKEY, THE UNITED STATES, AND LEADING
EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS.
BUT TO MANY ETHNIC KURDS IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY AND NORTHERN
IRAQ, THE P-K-K IS VIEWED AS THE ONLY KURDISH MOVEMENT TO HAVE
SUCCEEDED IN FORCING THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
KURDS EXISTENCE AS A SEPARATE ETHNIC GROUP.
STILL, OBSERVERS SAY THE BRUTAL METHODS EMPLOYED BY THE REBELS --
INCLUDING THE MURDERS OF KURDISH CIVILIANS WHO SIDE WITH THE
TURKISH GOVERNMENT -- HAS REINFORCED THE GROUP'S TERRORIST IMAGE
BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH
13-Nov-98 12:21 PM EST (1721 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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